It’s still only April, but White Sox fans know better than to fall into the same traps as 2022. At 7-15, the team is not just off to a poor start, but an abysmal start. While the White Sox are unlikely a true “worst team in baseball” contender, they are also probably closer to the bottom of the league than they are to the top. While it’s too early to say the team should definitively trade away some of its best players for prospects, the specifics of such a plan do need to be considered.
First of all, before the dozens of social media comments/replies start rolling in, it goes without saying that it would be… unusual for the same White Sox front office to get another shot at a long-term plan for the team — whether that plan is rebuilding, a lesser “retooling,” or somehow doubling down on the existing plan. Nevertheless, given the way the White Sox operate, it would also be quite surprising for major changes to the front office. Perhaps Ken Williams will retire, bumping Rick Hahn to his current position and Chris Getz to general manager, but the idea of a significant outside hire seems far-fetched (at least under current ownership).
While player development may ultimately be the biggest reason as to why the grand White Sox rebuild has been a failure to date, the inability of the front office to adapt to league trends is certainly worth mentioning as well. Most notably, every single starting position player acquired since the end of the 2020 season has been a contact-first hitter with either below-average or almost non-existent power. In a league where power has only become more important, this attempt to zig while everyone else zags (which is frankly a nice way of putting it) has backfired horribly, leading to a stagnant and redundant offense.
Regardless, if the White Sox are not planning on making any material changes to the front office, another full rebuild is unlikely. Humorously, the White Sox are in a similar position to 2016 — the roster is flawed and talented, but ultimately there are only a few reliable players buoyed by an inconsistent and injury-prone supporting cast. However, a full rebuild would be a tough sell to fans so soon after the last one, and without a more modernized approach to player development, it might not be the best idea regardless.
The White Sox might retool, as they so often did prior to the full rebuild. Retooling actually does make some sense — there are plenty of players on expiring contracts that could help a contender. My fear, however, is that the White Sox would carry out a quasi-retool that is not fully thought out.
Of course, there are certain players that should not be traded unless an overwhelming offer is received. These should be players that are under team control for several more years and/or are exceptionally good: Dylan Cease, Luis Robert Jr., Andrew Vaughn, etc.
However, for a retool to be truly successful, the White Sox would need to stockpile their farm system with talent from not just a couple of trades, but trades of practically every player that is scheduled to be a free agent following the 2023 season (and in some cases, the 2024 season). The team cannot hold onto players hoping that they will end up re-signing, or because they did not get an offer that matches their internal valuation of the player.
The vast majority of the following players would have to be traded for the best offer in order for a retool to have a decent chance of succeeding:
- Yasmani Grandal (free agent after this season)
- Liam Hendriks (assuming he returns and trading him would not lead to any potential health issues/complications)
- Lance Lynn (team option for 2024)
- Tim Anderson (team option for 2024)
- Kendall Graveman (free agent after 2024 season)
- Joe Kelly (team option for 2024)
- Mike Clevinger (team option for 2024)
- Lucas Giolito (free agent after this season)
- Reynaldo Lopez (free agent after this season)
Of course, trading the majority of these players would decimate the White Sox roster in the short term, but that should not matter in a retool. Whether the same front office that acquired these players should be able to oversee a massive sale is also another issue and one that most White Sox fans likely agree on. However, if the White Sox decide to retool but end up only trading a few of the above players, then it is very unlikely that the prospects they receive will be enough to supplement the remaining core.
Again, it’s still April, and for all we know, this article will mark the day that the White Sox go on a 25-5 run. Hopefully, that is what happens. If not, then the current roster is full of players that will reach free agency either this winter or next, so it is imperative that a retool is carried out properly. Just a few players being traded will not make enough of a difference — most or all of the above list should be dealt for the best offer, and the team should not shy away from at least listening on players like Cease, Robert Jr., Yoan Moncada, or Eloy Jiménez as well.
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Featured Photo: © Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
LMAO this team is not going on a 25-5 run. They have the 28th ranked team ERA in MLB. They are more likely to go on a 5-25 run.
They have no choice but to trade everybody. It’s better than losing all those players and getting nothing in return.
The teams the WSox have played to start the season are either vying for an October playoff spot or are a team of young studs making noise. The ChiSox are neither. I was hoping the brass would have chosen as their new skipper Guillen or Pierzynski. As on the field commanders they both possessed knowledge and instinct; qualities sorely missing in the front office, in the dugout, and on the field. Should the White Sox break up, retool or stand pat is a hard choice because I do not trust the current GM to know the difference between a thoroughbred and standardbred. If I were to choose in place of the general manager, I would trade Cease, Koepeck and Lynn, along with Anderson, Grandal, Jimenez & Moncada. In return I want quality starters with MLB history of pitching into the seventh inning.
How about dump the entire team, front office and all into Lake Michigan or the Chicago River?
When you ask where should the reeling White Sox go from here, how about go to heaven and make a U-turn?
The White Sox have too many issues to fix! You have a front office and owner who are of the attitude that if you ignore these problems, they will fix themselves or go away. An outside hire was mentioned above. But who from the outside would want to work for this organization? The problems are so numerous that when it comes to fixing this team, where do you start?
You Gotta Be ” Bleepin” Me!!! New Season, same old White Sox. I have been a fan since 1970.
The White Sox should have brought back Ozzie Guillen of AJ Pierzynski. EHY would have made the players’ ply their butts off and make better decisions. On paper the players are not all that bad, but the preparation and commitment are not being pushed. That is why you need a manager who does tolerate laziness.
The White Sox should have hired Ozzie Guillen or AJ Pierzynski
Andrew Vaughn is NOT GOOD.